Learning objectives
- Choose a/an by sound.
- Use the for a specific known noun.
- Use articles with common singular countable nouns.
Articles: a, an and the
Articles help show whether a noun is general, one of many, or already specific.
Grammar rules
- Use a before a consonant sound: a book, a university.
- Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour.
- Use the when speaker and listener know which one: the door, the teacher.
- A/an means one non-specific member of a group.
Examples
- I need a pen.
- She ate an orange.
- Please close the door.
- He is a student.
- It took an hour.
Common mistakes
- Choose by sound, not only spelling: a university; an hour.
- Do not normally omit a/an before a singular countable job noun: She is teacher ✗.
Revision notes
First/general mention → a/an.
Known/specific → the.
Listen to the first sound to choose a or an.